Avro Lancaster B Mk III. Dambuster

From failure to success.
The Avro Type 683 Lancaster four-engined bomber was developed from the disappointing twin-engined Manchester, which suffered from engine fires caused by the unreliable Rolls-Royce Vulture engine.
The basic Manchester airframe was, however, solidly constructed.
A logical solution was to increase the wingspan and replace the two Vultures with four Merlin engines.
The engine originally developed by Rolls-Royce for the Beaufighter II was quickly adapted and fitted in underwing nacelles.
The prototype BT308 made its first flight on 9 January 1941 and soon proved to be an excellent aircraft with good handling and high lifting capacity.
Originally designated the Manchester III, it was soon renamed the Lancaster.
The general shape of the Lancaster remained the same throughout production, with the exception of the MK II, which used Bristol Hercules radial engines in case there was a shortage of Merlins.
The Mk I and III were similar, differing only in the type of Merlin engine fitted.
The Mk III used the Packard-built Merlin 28.
The Lancaster entered service in bomber squadrons from early 1942 and quickly became the backbone of RAF Bomber Command.
The type was used in many famous raids, including the one on the M.A.N. works at Augsburg, the spectacular "Dambusters" raid on the Ruhr Valley dams and the sinking of the "Tirpitz", to name but a few.
It became famous for its use in high-precision bombing raids by 617 Squadron.
Its 33-foot bomb bay enabled it to carry large loads as well as the rotating "Upkeep" mine used to breach the Ruhr dams.
Specially modified aircraft could carry the massive 12,000-pound "Tallboy" and 22,000-pound "Grand Slam" earthquake bombs.
Towards the end of the war it was also used to drop food on the starving Dutch population and to transport the many prisoners of war home from Germany.
Post-war Lancasters were used to test jet engines and aerial refueling systems.
As a bomber it was gradually replaced, but it found a useful role with Coastal Command until the last aircraft was withdrawn from service in October 1956.
The RCAF and the French l'Aéronavale continued to use the Lancaster until the mid-1960s. A total of 7,377 Lancasters were built in Britain and Canada.

Plastic model kit

• with photo-etched parts
• Wingspan about 97.1cm
• Length about 66.3cm
• Including interior
• Several decal options

Scale: 1:32

unbuilt / unpainted

Paint and glue not included